Eric Mendez, a UPS delivery driver, may have simply been in the right place at the right time when he happened upon a drowning baby Wednesday evening. It was his quick reaction to the situation, however, that made him a hero that day.

At about 7 in the evening, a two-year-old fell into the pool at the Kingston Port Apartments. Eric was delivering packages just a few feet away. He heard the child’s screams and decided to investigate. There, he found the lifeless toddler and performed CPR, saving his life.

“It looked like he had foam in his mouth. His lips, his nose were all blue. He was just lifeless. It was really, really scary,” Eric said. While he hadn’t performed CPR in years, he knew that it had to be done. “I ran over there, threw my bag and board down, and told them to give him to me. I started doing CPR, and that’s all I remember. I blocked everything out. My mind was on that little boy.”

Eric says his mind was also on his daughter as he tried to fill the little boy’s lungs with air.

“Seeing that, and seeing how the parents were reacting; it was indescribable.”

After about a minute of CPR, the little boy started to breathe again. Paramedics then arrived and transported him to Driscoll hospital.

First responders on the scene are calling Eric a hero; they believe that his actions meant the difference between life and death for the little boy, who is reportedly in stable condition.

“In my experience, that child was losing options by the second,” said firefighter Steve Bowers. “The fact that he got here in a minute or two before we did and started CPR was a big change in that kid’s life.”

Captain K.T. Goodman agrees.

“We felt that his actions were the deciding factor in the life of this child,” Goodman said.

The first response team wants to award Eric with a citizen’s lifesaving award, but Eric doesn’t really see himself as a hero. In fact, he went right on delivering packages right after paramedics took the boy away.

“I am a normal UPS guy, at the right place at the right time,” Eric said.

Eric did admit, however, that while he is working hard, the boy and the boy’s family are still in his thoughts and prayers.

About the Author

Kate Givans is a wife and a mother of five—four sons (one with autism) and a daughter. She’s an advocate for breastfeeding, women’s rights, against domestic violence, and equality for all. When not writing—be it creating her next romance novel or here on Growing Your Baby—Kate can be found discussing humanitarian issues, animal rights, eco-awareness, food, parenting, and her favorite books and shows on Twitter or Facebook. Laundry is the bane of her existence, but armed with a cup of coffee, she sometimes she gets it done. Find out more about Kate’s books at authorkategivans.com.